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Wheat Ridge moves recruits into police pension plan, raises sworn contribution and lowers retirement age
Summary
Council amended code to enroll police recruits in the sworn pension plan immediately and approved a restated plan adoption agreement that raises the city's sworn contribution to 12.5% and lowers the normal retirement age to 50, to align with IRS rules for public safety employees; the contribution increase will be funded by forfeiture releases.
WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. — The Wheat Ridge City Council on Jan. 27 approved changes to the city’s police pension rules that (1) allow recruits entering the police academy to enroll immediately in the sworn police pension plan and (2) amend the sworn plan to increase the city contribution and lower the normal retirement age for sworn officers.
Council Bill 04‑2025 amends the code so recruits are enrolled in the police pension plan at hire instead of first being placed in the civilian plan for roughly six months during academy training. City staff said the prior practice created administrative burdens and occasional errors that could cost officers vesting credits; the change will begin with the July recruit class.
Separately, by Resolution 07‑2025 council approved an amended plan adoption agreement that increases the city’s contribution to the sworn pension by 0.5 percentage points (from 12% to 12.5%) and reduces the plan’s normal retirement age from 55 to 50, matching the IRS minimum for public safety employees. Deputy City Manager (presenting the pension items) said the contribution increase will be paid from forfeiture funds accumulated when employees leave the plan; those forfeiture releases offset employer contributions and do not require a new general‑fund appropriation.
City staff and the Police Pension Board worked together on both changes, the presentation said. The recruit enrollment change is intended to remove the need for recruits to switch plans after graduation and to preserve city vesting credits for new officers. The retirement‑age change was presented as aligning the plan with IRS rules and offering officers a greater opportunity to take advantage of catch‑up provisions when eligible.
Councilor Ulm moved approval of the ordinance to enroll recruits immediately; Councilor Hoppe seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Mayor Pro Tem Tim Stites moved approval of the resolution restating the sworn plan adoption agreement; that motion also passed unanimously on a voice poll.
